Time in a Bottle

Don't you wish you could save time in a bottle?
You know, for those special times where God feels like he is right there, and the entire world feels in balance.

I had one of those moments tonight.  It was after having dinner with hubby.  We walked out on a pier.  The waves were making white caps, but I felt warm and safe.  God was in the waves and in the wind, but inside my soul was a peace and quiet that I can't even begin to explain.

Just everything felt right.  
I knew husband loved me.  
   I knew God loved me more today than yesterday.
         I knew my life was changing for the better.
                I knew that  my daughter was expecting to see something miraculous from God.
                    I knew that  my son was seeking God with his whole heart.
                          I knew that my son-in-law wanted to do God's will no matter what.
                               I just knew that things were just the way God ordained.

But i guess everyday is ordained from God, so why do we have only these small little windows when we get to see Him and feel Him and really know that He is there?

Why does life have to interrupt and tell us that our circumstances can't possibly be God's will?

I will cherish this day..... The beauty of the earth and the night sky and the rolling waves and the love I feel..... are all a gift from HIM  to   me!

O Lord - open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise!
       For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
             You do not delight in burnt offering,
                     The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
                              A broken and contrite heart -
                                     These, O God, You will not despise.  Ps. 51.16,17

You've gotta love the gray!

So here it is, another gray wet day in Washington.  How do we do it?  Survive that is!

Well, we have a choice, enjoy the day or not enjoy the day.
I choose to not "like" the weather, but enjoy the day.
I LOVE what Joyce Meyer says: "It's not your problem that's your problem, but your attitude towards your problem that's your problem."
I cannot let my circumstances dictate what kind of day I will have.
I'm not just talking about the weather, but just the stuff that happens in life that's hard and scary.  Stuff we would rather run from.
The devil's plan is to convince us life's too hard, be bitter, blame someone else for your mess.
his plan is basically to kill (our self esteem), steal (our joy), and destroy (our day)

God's plan speaks hope, life and peace.  His plan is to not let us slip out of the palm of His hand.
His plan is to make us feel loved.  His plan is to take care of one another and love each other deeply.
His plan speaks freedom in our lives.

Even in the midst of dark, lonely days,  He is there - wanting to be our friend, our comforter.

WE have TONS to be happy about and its not because of something WE have done.
"When the kindness and love of God towards us appeared...........
{not by anything that we did!}......
but He saved US according to HIS MERCY!"    Titus 3:4,5

The Truth is that Every day is a gift from God.  And aside from how I 'FEEL' today - I choose to be happy and thank HIM for HIS mercy - daily - hourly- minutely-----

Thank you Jesus for seeing me through the dark gray days, and giving me a reason to celebrate your love.
John 3:16 pretty much says it all   =   [grace].

The snow is here!

How quickly things change!  I can barely keep up.  Two weeks ago we were vacationing in South Africa where it was warm and sunny and breezy.  Then we get home and find it almost spring-like.  Daffodils starting to poke up.  Warm enough to not wear my down coat, and almost feeling like Spring is around the corner.

Then it hits.  The big one.  Lots and lots of white.  Falling everywhere, covering everything.  Changing me on the inside.  That feeling of spring-time freedom now becomes winter-time claustrophobia.
Yes, I admit I am a sunny outdoors gal.  Love the garden and birds and green grass.  I love watching perennials fight through the hard soil to make something gorgeous.
But today I'm rejoicing anyway.
God loves changes.  He changes the weather, he changes us.
He doesn't want us to get tooo comfy in our little comfort zone.
He is always mixing it up, adding another element of His fun-ness.
God must never get bored thinking up new stuff for us.
He wants us to see each day as a gift from Him.
So my attitude today is not one of being stuck in-doors.
I'm looking outside... and pondering if it is ever going to stop.......
Better get out there while I can and enjoy every part of His Creativeness.
Only God can do this right?
And I think He wants us to put down everything and just run out and yell
"Good job God. Your craftiness and creativeness and loveliness is amazing!"
From the smallest grain of sand - to the perfect one-of-a-kind snowflake----
I will stand in awe today, of what God can do :)

A Time to Reflect

Today is a time to reflect on God's Love.
It's not about what I feel from Him, But what I know about Him.
He is LOVE.  He is GOOD.  He CARES for me.  He KNOWS me.
He even loves me in spite of all my weaknesses.
I come up short in so many different areas, but He loves me anyway.
I don't deserve even one speck of his FORGIVENESS and RENEWAL, but I get it any way.
How wonderful it is to be a child of God.
And know that HE holds my future in His hands.
The way may seem rocky and uncertain, but HE KNOWS everything about me....
So I will trust HIM with my WHOLE heart and know that HE is in control.
No where can I ever go where He isn't!!!
No where!!